Dubai Resume (CV) Writing Tips
Regardless of the technical meaning of either CV or resumé, for Dubai employment purposes, they are the same thing. Since the word CV is more commonly used in Dubai, we’re going to use it throughout this article.
Here, I’ll tell you about Dubai specific issues that you need to be aware of when writing your Dubai CV. If you need general instructions on how to write CVs, there are hundreds of free websites that can give you that. Use Google to find them, but for a Dubai specific CV, stick here.
Let’s get started.
There Are No Anti-Discrimination Laws in Dubai
Making a CV for Dubai Can Be Tricky!
Dubai is a free town. (Well, at least in this regard it is). No one tells the employers what and what not to look for in an employee. Employers can ask you all kinds of questions and they can judge you based on any criterion they deem necessary. What does this mean for your CV? Well, many things…
Include Your Photo
For your Dubai CV to be effective, you gotta include a photo of yourself. The photo tells the employers many of the things that they would want to know about you. Like, do you look hot and presentable? Or, what ethnic group do you belong to, is it one of which the employer favors? (Yes, this thing happens in Dubai, unfortunately)
In any way, your photo also makes your CV look more human and attractive.
Include Your Nationality
What if you are a unique human being of mixed races? What if it’s hard to tell your ethnicity by your photo? In this case, include your nationality. If you are a dual-citizen include the better nationality. This might not work for some people, though, as their name may reveal their real nationality. Like, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon with a U.S. passport!
Moreover, regardless of how much of an individual you are, your nationality could tell many real things about you. Set things straight from the start and reveal it in your CV.
Include Your Date of Birth
No 45-year-olds need apply to this Marketing Assistant position. It’s common practice for employers to want to filter-out candidates based on their age. And it is common for candidates in Dubai to include their age on their CV.
Your Gender is a Factor
There are job listings in Dubai where they will ask for a specific gender, age and ethnicity. Like
Personal Assistant to The General Manager Needed
Gender: Female
Age: 25-35
Nationality: Lebanese or Western
More like a personal ad than a job posting, if you ask me! But, what the heck, at least they are being honest. So, if your gender can’t be determined by your name or photo, mention it explicitly.
Did Anyone Mistakenly Tell You That Your CV Should Not Be More Than One Page in Length?
That’s what they told me, and they were wrong! Especially for Dubai. In a couple of networking events and meetings, I handed out my one-pager, and people were turning it over to see what’s more. There wasn’t any. One guy asked me, "only one page?" From then on, I expanded my CV into two full-pages, and the phone started ringing!
Glorify, Exaggerate and Dramatize
I don’t care whether you are applying for an office administrator or a phone operator, write your CV as if you’re applying for the Chief Executive Officer position. If you’ve done any work, be it freelance, community work, school project, voluntary or anything, glorify it, exaggerate it, make it sound like the biggest project in the industry!
Here’s a little example:
You didn’t:
Efficiently entered data into a spreadsheet
What you did instead is:
Devised an efficient data-entry system that was approved by management and increased productivity by 70%
You’re not lying here. The way you quickly input data into a spreadsheet is a system that’s devised by you, and you kinda mentioned that Excel trick to the boss and he liked it…
Forget The Clean U.S. Style CV. You Need a Dubai Fancy Style CV
Career advisers tell people to have no styling in their CVs probably because they know that most people suck at styling documents. And that’s probably true. So, if you know for sure that you can style your CV and still keep it clean and easily readable, do it. Otherwise, your photo nicely aligned to the side in the header, with a couple of thin black borders here and there would do the job. To stay safe, download our Dubai CV template below.
Either Write A Great Cover Letter, Or Forget It!
The most important aspect of a cover letter is how relevant it is. When you write your cover letter, you are much more likely to get results if the cover letter is addressed directly to the person who will be reading it.
Also, make your cover letter short and quick, but make sure that you give the reader a compelling reason to open up your CV and read it.
So you see, writing a CV for Dubai is definitely different from writing a CV for the U.S. or even the U.K. What’s been discussed in this article should keep you safe.
Download the Dubai CV Template:
Or Get Professional Help
Premium subscribers to Dubai Employment Tips get a free CV/Resume evaluation by CV writing professionals. Read about the subscription here
CV Emailing Tips:
Before you email your CV to anybody, make sure that you view and adhere to these important guidelines. They will increase the response you get.
I was about to give my CV a face-lift and as Dubai is my target market I thought “Hey! Why don’t I Google “Dubai CV”? ”.
And voila! First search result and its better than I thought it would be. Well, I didn’t think it would exist at all.
So THANK YOU!
Very informative, easy to read (due to the writer’s sense of humor) and has a smooth branching of useful related topics.
I applaud you on a job well done.
Z
Salaam
It’s a very helpfull site. My Hubby kept saying that he needs a pic on the resume to apply in dubai and i kept saying that NO NO NO NO…. but i guess u actually do. Thanks for the website again. I Never post comments on sites but this site really deserves to have a credit in facts. Thanks
This website help me to understand better, thanks!
I’m looking for a job in Dubai, i want to apply to Emirates Airlines,cabin crew. Can you help me with some advices?
Thanks,
Luana.
Hello Luana,
Thanks for the kind words.
Since you have chosen the company you want to work for, try to directly contact high management, not HR. This way, you can get rid of the middleman. Also try to socialize with people working at that company. Getting help from acquaintances is much easier than getting it from strangers.
Best,
Hi there,
I’ve just re-written my resume to fit this format and am feeling much more confident. The only thing that’s worrying me is that I’m at the start of my career (I finished my Bachelor’s degree 2 years ago) – do you think I still have a chance at getting work in Dubai? I’m looking for something in PR or Communications – I have an arts degree with a major in English and two years of experience in Communications, Tech Writing and Media Monitoring.
Thanks,
Jacqui
Hi Jacqui,
Everyone has a set of skills that makes them unique. This is what makes synergy possible. If you feel that you are more confident with your new CV, then you probably have shown what makes you unique. You have six years of experience, which includes your education. That doesn’t make you at the start of your career. Just show employers that they need you, not the other way around. And give me the good news soon.
Best,
Can i the situation in Dubai in Banking/Financial services i am looking my career in this field
Hello Kiran,
Dubai has been affected by the financial crisis but not to the extent that people imagine. Dubai Islamic Bank has made a profit of AED 1.2 Billion in the midst of the crisis. So my answer is yes, you can always move to Dubai and work in the financial sector.
Best,
Mohammed
I made my Cv finally(from your tips) Thanks !!…..
This section is worth reading..thanks mates..
this site is absolutely amazing sir,but one thing u did not mention specifically is how to build the networks from scratch..really curious plzz do tell
Hi Duaa,
I explain how to easily and instantly build a professional network on my premium service. It has been a great help for many.
Best,
Hi,
The info in this website is very helpful specially the resume format. However, in the given example the roles & responsibilities are few. In my case where im from call center expereince with multi tasking the roles & responsibilities are more. In such a case how to describe them as they make one page (6yrs of experience from 2 different companies). An example in the resume format will be very very useful for job seekers like me.
Thanking You
Altaf
Hi Altaf,
An entire page of job description responsibilities is an overkill. You probably want to summarize that and trim it down to about 5 bullet points.
To tell you the truth, from what I have seen, recruiters don’t really read CVs. They just read the headings on the CV — the bolded and enlarged text. They don’t read the details. That’s why you want to break up your CV by headings and sections as much as possible and not go into details too much…
Best,
Mohammed
How important is it to have a photograph on the CV?
Thanks,
Dinesh
Hi Dinesh,
As you may already know, there are no universal or written laws regarding photographs on CVs. The idea behind including a photo in your CV is to make it as personable and memorable as possible. However, if you think that your photo will hurt your chances of securing the job, don’t include it. For example, if you’re one of those people who look 18 year olds, while you’re 30, you may not wanna include your photo when you apply to a managerial position — instead let your qualifications do the talking. You’ll have to use your own judgement.
Best,
Mohammed
Hi Mr Safi
But in that Dubai CV template u are not given that much importance for the job profile and other computer skills.I think that is the backbone of every resume rather than the achievements.Like to hear from u
Hi Mohamed Irshad,
I recommend listing achievements because they tend to be tangible and easily measurable. You’ve either achieved something or you haven’t. But with computer skills, anyone could rate themselves as high as they’d like. Furthermore, basic computer skills are implicitly required in this day and age. It’s like good reading and writing skills.
Best,
Mohammed
Hello, this page is fantastic, very helpful! However, I am wondering about references, are they very important to Dubai employers? Thank you!
Hi Catherine, the importance of your reference depends on many factors. However, generally speaking, yes they are important; perhaps not initially, but at least after you have been interviewed and became considered for the job offer.
hey,
thanks for the tips and the help you’ve been providing so far to so many many people. Highly appreciable!
I’m a B-tech graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engg, from one of the most prestigious institutes in India. I’ve done my schooling in Dubai and am now in search for a job here.
my first qns is, how is the job scenario here for fresh graduates of my field?
being a fresh graduate, the most common obstacle that has been coming my way is the lack of experience.
could you provide me some tips and pointers to keep in mind during my application process.
what all should i keep in mind while making my CV?
word around many places is that there are more opportunities in AUH than in Dubai, for fresh graduates. is this true?
is there any opportunity or direction you could point me towards, for a fresh graduate?
i apologise if i may seem too forward or have posed too many questions for you.
thanks
thanks for posting this!
SUB: Opportunity within your organization
Dear Sir / Madam,
I employed with WLC College India, Noida Campus, Noida as a librarian but feel that your job offers greater scope for my abilities. I wish to apply for the post of Librarian.
I take the job with a great sense of responsibility, enjoy the challenge of new situations and expect to make a positive contribution in the position.
I think my background and experiences enable me to quickly adapt and help any institute/corporation. My resume is enclosed for your review. Of particular note for you and the members of your team as you consider my skills are my strong accomplishments in combining your objectives with technical savvy to achieve improved operating efficiency internally and improved informative service flow for the institution as a whole.
Additionally, my accomplishments have been achieved by improving information flow within Library and Information services, and improving cooperation between management and staff. After Two years of professional experience, I have a thorough understanding of every aspect of Library and Information Services Management activities. My current employer is very happy with my performance. I am eager to consider new challenges.
If you are seeking a talented individual who stays abreast of his field, who understands technology, who earns 100% staff support, and who is as career-committed as it takes to achieve total success, then please consider my application. I would be happy to have a preliminary discussion with you or members of your team to see if we can establish a mutual interest.
Thank you for your attention to these materials. I certainly look forward to exploring this further.
Regards
Md.Safiqur Rahaman
Thanks for the usefull information on the website.
i would like to know if 4 pages cv is excessive. i am visiting dubai for couple of weeks and plan is to find a job in this period.
Thanks
I took your advice on the email: “Instead of using a cover letter, use the body of the email to which you attach your CV” but sometimes this is not possible and need to use a cover letter. I wanted to know if a 2 page cover letter is excessive?
thanks
Len,
Unless you can write the most compelling story about yourself to captivate the reader and get their eyes to latch on to your paragraphs, I think that a 2-page cover letter is excessive and will bore anyone who reviews your application.
Best,
Hi!
Is it true that East-europeans are getting less payment in Dubai ????? rumors has it …you know…
Im a B.A,Head of English Department in a secondary school,Romanian origin ,and I’m permanently relocating to Dubai ,due to my husband permanent job there.
Any advice in how to get a job in educational-related fiels?
Thanks
Hi Doriana,
One of the most influencing factors of how much you get paid in Dubai is the purchasing power parity (PPP) of the country of your original passport. For example, if in Romania, the average price for a haircut is US$5 that would make your PPP much lower than that of Dubai where a $20 isn’t entirely out of the question, and therefore you may get paid a lower wage. Of course, this is an over-generalization, but it’s a good rule of thumb.
As to your other question regarding educational-related job, we would be happy to provide further assistance to you as a subscriber to Dubai Targeting service because we really don’t have the resources to provide attention to non-premium users of Dubai Employment Tips.
Thanks a lot for stopping by, and good luck with your move…
Hey,
I just wanted to thank you for your helpful tips. I moved to Dubai from Canada a week ago and did non know about the hiring and CV’s here. (Back home we call them Resume’s) lol
Anyways I am still looking but just wanted to thank you. This website really helps.
Karim
@shafik, glad you found the tips helpful. English is very important in Dubai. Make sure that you work on improving your conversational and written English.
@bob, that really depends, some people get hired without even showing a CV! They go to an interview through one of their connections, the interviewer asks a few questions about their employment history, they like them, they hire them. That simple! On the other end of the spectrum, some people have to go to great lengths to show their worth. They have to show their portfolio, their successful track record and all of that stuff.
The fanciness of your CV could fall at any point in this spectrum. If you feel that you need to show more, put your CV in a fancy binder. If you are comfortable with the level of presentation of your CV, just stable it and hand it out.
In the end, there is no universal answers to a question like this. Use your own judgment. What ever feels right to you is probably right for you
Good luck!
I would like to know if one should simply staple in the upper left corner a 2 page resume or if it should be bound in something more Dubai fancy.
its a very good help and useful thing you are giving to the people who are preparing to go for an interview…i have only a little language in english…and ofcourse i dont get answers for a questions that are asked by an interviwer…and i am relaxed when i read your tips n all..still iam studying…am very much thankful to u…thank you….